"Diary of a Spider" Review
June 20, 2008 by Jane Boursaw
| DVD: Diary of a Spider | On DVD: May 27, 2008 |
| Runtime: 69 minutes | Based On: stories written by Doreen Cronin |
| MPAA Rating: Not Rated * Buy It on Amazon |  Gecko Rating: |
This children’s DVD is aimed at preschoolers and young grade-schoolers. I’d say ages 3 to 6. The cover says 3 to 9, but my 10-year-old daughter said there’s no way any of her 9-year-old friends would watch this DVD. Not that it isn’t good. It just skews younger.
Five stories are included, and each story features a read-along line at the bottom of the screen, making this idea for kids just learning to read.
DIARY OF A SPIDER (Written by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Harry Bliss, and narrated by Angus T. Jones). This spider is a lot like a normal kid. He goes to gym class and has Grandparents Day at school. But he also gets to spin sticky webs, take wind-catching lessons, and have a fly as a best friend! I get that they’re trying to make insects and spiders seem not so creepy, but a few scenes in this story WERE a little creepy, like when a girl went to drink from a drinking fountain and her face got caught in a spider’s web. The story is cute, but little scenes like that turned me off.
More after the jump!
ROBERTO THE INSECT ARCHITECT (Written and Illustrated by Nina Laden, narrated by Sean Hayes). Roberto the termite travels to the big city to follow his dream of becoming a successful architect. Very cute story.
NORMAN THE DOORMAN (Written and Illustrated by Don Freeman, narrated by Mary Beth Hurt). Norman the guard of the Art Museum is surprised when his sculpture wins first prize in a contest. Another cute story that little ones will identify with.
THE MYSTERIOUS TADPOLE (Written and Illustrated by Steven Kellogg, narrated by Neil Innes). Lewis’s birthday gift appears to be a tadpole but to his delight, it turns out to be so much more.
THE STORY OF THE DANCING FROG (Written and Illustrated by Quentin Blake, narrated by Amanda Plummer). This is my favorite story of the collection, about a dancing frog who goes on a whirlwind theatrical tour.
Image: Diary of a Spider, Amazon.com
This reminds me a lot of Miss Spider, my 4-year-old would love it. Thanks for the review.